Valid age and height range
The ECCS/ERS (see reference below) recommendations for reference values in adults apply to the following ranges:
| Gender | Age range* | Height range |
| Female | 18 – 70 yr | 1.45 – 1.80 m |
| Male | 18 – 70 yr | 1.55 – 1.95 m |
* Substitute 25 yr between ages 18 and 25 yr.
There is no evidence in the Dutch material that extrapolation beyond these ranges leads to unacceptable results. However,
one is urged to interpret test results with more than usual
reservations if the subject’s standing height, or age,
and in particular when both, are outside the ranges listed
above. Aged persons in particular are frequently very short,
possibly because their spinal column has partially collapsed
due to osteoporosis. It is well known that a combination of
extreme height and age leads to inaccurate predictions; this
will hold even truer if normal body proportions have been
affected by severe osteoporosis (ref. 2).
The number of elderly subjects in the Dutch material is rather
limited. However, regression equations for elderly subjects
are available from other sources (ref. 3).
Extrapolating FEV1%(F)VC
beyond age 65 yr appears to be acceptable, but as regards
FEV1 and (F)VC this
is open to some doubt.
| ECCS and ERS | |
| In the revised version (1993) of the 1983 report
(Quanjer PhH (ed.) Standardized lung function testing.
Bull Eur Physiopathol Respir 1983; 19 suppl. 5: 45-51)
of the European Community for Coal and Steel (ECCS) published
in 1993 predicted values of lung indices were unchanged.
They are almost universally applied in Europe. The 1993
report was officially adopted by the European Respiratory
Society (ERS). The following chapter deals with spirometry, predicted values and bronchodilator responsiveness: Quanjer PhH, Tammeling GJ, Cotes JE, Pedersen OF, Peslin R, Yernault JC. Lung volumes and forced ventilatory flows. Eur Respir J 1993; 6 suppl. 16: 5-40. |
|
| Ref. 2 - Osteoporosis and lung function in women | |
| Kyphosis and thoracic compression fractures in postmenopausal
women lead to a lower vital capacity: Leech JA, Dulberg C, Kellie S, Pattee L, Gay J. Relationship of lung function to severity of osteoporosis in women. Am Rev Respir Dis 1990; 141: 68-71. |
|
| Ref. 3 - Spirometric indices in elderly and aged subjects | |
| 1 | Smith WD, Cunningham DA, Patterson DH, Rechnitzer PA, Koval JJ. Forced expiratory volume, height, and demispan in Canadian men and women aged 55-86. J Gerontol 1992; 47: M40-44. |
| 2 | Enright PL, Kronmal RA, Higgins M, Schenker M, Haponik EF. Spirometry reference values for women and men 65 to 85 years of age. Cardiovascular health study. Am Rev Respir Dis 1993; 147: 125-133. |
| 3 | Enright PL, Adams AB, Boyle PJ, Sherrill DL. Spirometry and maximal respiratory pressure references from healthy Minnesota 65- to 85-year-old women and men. Chest 1995; 108: 663-669. |